All These Things That They've Done

Nicolette’s head was resting in
Noel’s lap in the library of the castle.
He was reading out loud to her (she had confessed to loving the sound of
his voice). It didn’t matter whether he
read a great work of art or a child’s ramblings, it all sounded heavenly to
her. When he had finished a chapter, he
closed the book and gazed into his lover’s eyes. Something had been praying on his mind ever since they made love
several days ago. Now was as good a
time as any to voice it.

“Darling?”style="mso-spacerun: yes"> His voice, as always, was soothing to her.

“Hm?”style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She smiled up at him.

“There’s
something I both need to ask…and tell you.”

She sat
up. “Is everything all right?”

He smiled
gently. “I hope so.”style="mso-spacerun: yes"> He sighed.
“Can I ask you something about your Jacob?”

She nodded.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Of course.”

“Was he
your first lover?”

“Mm hm.”

“Were you
his?”

She shook
her head. “No.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Jake was a pirate. He was honest with me about his ‘relationships’ from port to
port.”

“Were you
ever with anyone else while you were with him?”

Nic could
very well have thought this an odd question, but one must remember that she was
a pirate as well. “No, he was the only
man I’ve been with…until you.” She
smiled with the last two words.

“I want to
be honest with you as well,” Noel said softly.
Nic nodded, understanding and accepting all at once.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> She’d rather him tell her about his past
than hide it from her. “I’ve had my share
of women lovers, but my sexual past doesn’t end there.”

Nic cocked
her head, unsure what to expect, though leaning in a particular direction.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> “Oh?”

His
expression was open and honest. “I’ve
been with men as well.”

“You?style="mso-spacerun: yes"> But you’re royalty…”

Noel was a
bit shocked at her response. “Um…I
wasn’t really expecting that.”

Nic
continued her thought. “What you’ve
just said…it’s not something I haven’t heard of – I lived with it on Jake’ ship
– several of his crew…were friendly with one another. But you’re a prince, surely you had women…when you wanted them.”

Noel licked
his lips. “I wasn’t with them out of sexual
desperation, Nicolette. I was with
them…because I wanted them.” A more
surprised “oh” escaped her mouth this time.
“Does this bother you?”

Nic
thought, very briefly before answering.
“It doesn’t change who you’ve been to me…No, it doesn’t matter at
all.” A slightly wicked smile crossed
her face. “Noel, I’m curious.”

“Hm?”

“Why do men
seem to enjoy…satisfying one another?”

Noel smiled
back at her. “I adore that you’re both
liberal and curious.” He looked at her
as if he was about to reveal the secret to life. “Men who pleasure one another for more than a substitute for a
woman because they find absolute sinful pleasure in it.”

“Have you
done that…lately?”

“No,
no…and, hopefully I never will again.”

“Why not?”
Nic asked, oblivious to what Noel was implying.

“Because,
silly girl,” he laughed, “I only want to be with you.”

“Me?…Only?style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Why?”

“I’ve
already told you that I love you, Nicolette.
Why does it shock you that I wouldn’t want another lover?”

Nic
shrugged. “You’re…well, who you are
and…can have anything, anyone…”

“And all I
want is you.” He wasted no time in
taking her lips with his own. After
several lengthy kisses, Noel pulled Nic onto his lap. “You bring out two very different sides of me, my darling.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Both a lion and a lamb…I’m feeling like a
mighty beast at the moment.”

Nic
blushed. “Noel…”

“Mm…fancy
the sofa, love?”

She
abandoned her inhibitions. “Whatever
makes you happy.”

“You,” he
growled, his hands lifting her skirts to her waist. His trousers were already opened and Nic squealed happily as he
slid deep within her. Using her knees
for leverage, Nic rode her prince, no longer looking to her past for solace,
but her future.